Exposure to low-dose radiation and the risk of breast cancer among women with a familial or genetic predisposition: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Low-dose radiation increases breast cancer risk among high-risk women. When using low-dose radiation among high-risk women, a careful approach is needed, by means of reducing repeated exposure, avoidance of exposure at a younger age and using non-ionising screening techniques.

Differences in Natural History between Breast Cancers in BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutation Carriers and Effects of MRI Screening-MRISC, MARIBS, and Canadian Studies Combined

“…The study data provide some support for omitting mammography in BRCA1 mutation carriers younger than 40, although mammographic prescreening of women in our studies may have reduced incident mammographic detection. This would comply with recommendations from studies reporting increased breast cancer risk in mutation carriers following exposure to diagnostic radiation at younger age, specifically before the age of 30 (28,29). The simulations confirmed that for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers, screening with MRI is a valuable addition to mammography screening, especially by detecting more T1A/B tumors.…”

No strong evidence for increased risk of breast cancer 8–26 years after multiple mammograms in their 30s in females at moderate and high familial risk

“…1,2 The results effectively rule out the 1.8-fold relative risk estimated for .5 exposures from the Dutch meta-analysis, 3 as this estimate lies outside the 95% confidence intervals obtained here. Although our study is not powered to detect smaller effects, there is reassurance that females undergoing mammograms in their early 30s do not have a greatly increased risk of radiation-induced breast cancers.…”

“…Exposure before the age of 20 years (OR 5 2.0, 95% CI: 1.3-3.1) or a mean of $5 exposures (OR 5 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1-3.0) was significantly associated with higher breast cancer risk and the authors concluded that a careful approach is needed when using low-dose radiation on high-risk females. 3 One study suggested using single-view mammography to detect calcifications in those undergoing MRI screening. 4 Although MRI is widely advocated in some countries in females with lifetime risks as low as 20-25%, 5 in many countries, its use is limited by cost and availability.…”

Impact of Environmental Contaminants on Breast Cancer / Wpływ Zanieczyszczenia Środowiska Na Raka Piersi

“…Low-dose radiation increased breast cancer risk among high-risk women with familial or genetic aggregation of breast cancer (OR = 1.3, 95% CI 0.9-1.8), and an exposure before age 20 (OR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.3-3.1) or a mean of ≥ 5 exposures (OR = 1.8, 95% 95% CI 1.1-3.0) was significantly associated with a higher radiation-induced breast cancer [256]. A study investigating whether women with a genetic predisposition to breast cancer may be at increased risk of cancer after exposure to ionizing radiation because of exposure to mammography found that in women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations it is not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer [257].…”